"TRAs do not assess the risk associated with the technical maturity of a technology or system. Rather they identify specific risks (e.g., performance data gaps) associated with the specific technologies, which provides a basis for quantifying those risks through formal risk assessments."[5]

"Technical assessments vary in their purpose and scope and how they are identified. TRAs used for governance purposes are prescriptive in their purpose and scope for evaluating the maturity of specific critical technologies at a point in time, whereas technical assessments may be broader in scope and purpose and commonly focus on the larger system, subsystems, and other elements. While TRAs for governance are often conducted by independent teams of subject matter experts, the knowledge-building TRAs are tailored self-assessments for determining the progress of technology maturation."[6]